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Child participation is a right. In fact, it is one of the guiding principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is also reflected in several provisions in the Convention. In particular article 12 of the Convention states that children have the right to participate in all matters affecting them, be it in family, school or the community.
The Convention affirms that children have the right to express their views freely in decisions taken in their regard and requires that those views be heard and given due weight in accordance with the children's age and maturity.
The term participation does not simply mean taking part or being nominally involved, it rather constitutes a concept of having influence over decisions and actions.
Needless to say, children must be provided with the necessary information of the pros and cons of available options so that they can make informed decisions. Through this process, however, the child should be free from either manipulation or force.
What is more, genuine participation as against tokenism, requires follow-up of children's recommendations and concerns, in addition to facilitating their participation.